Freight-car



(No Model.)

R. B. CAMPBELLY`&: I'. E. HOUSE.

FREIGHT GAR.

Patented June 28, 1887.

UNITED STATES i PATENT OEEICE.

ROBERT B. CAMPBELL AND FRANCIS HOUSE, OF MARION, IOWA.

FREIGHT-CAR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 365.461,'dated June 28, 1887.

Application tiled April 26, 1887.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that we, ROBERT B. CAMPBELL and FRANCIS E. HoUsE, citizens of the United States, residing at Marion, in the county of Linn and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Freight-Cars, of which the following is a specitiraion.

The obj ectof ourinvention is to so constructa railwaycar asto admit of its being readily converted-into a stock, grain, or coal car; andthe invention consists in the construction and arrangements of parts to this end, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of the car; Fig; 2, a crosssee, tion of the same in the line yz; Fig. 3, a fragmentary end view of panels and connective parts, showingthe detailof their construction; and Fig. 4, a fragmentary side view of a part of the car next to the door, showing the device forholding the movable panel in position when elevated.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

` In the moving of freight it is often quite desirable to be able to use the cars employed in the transportation of stock-for example, in the carrying of coal or merchandise-since there is apt to be a surplus of one sort of cars and a scarcity'ofanother at any point, and especially at certain seasons,when there is a general movement ot' any one species offreight in one direction. stock-cars, which for the most part have to be returned empty. The present invention is designed to economize in this matter by providing cars which may be used in one direcl tion for carrying stock or the like and returned with a load of coal, or merchandise, or grain, or may carry one species of freight in one end and freight of quite a different character in the other.

It is not claimed that the broad idea of a convertible or combination car is new; but a car which is at once adapted to the requirements of a stock, coal, or grain car we believe to be novel and useful.

The frame of the 'car A corresponds for the4 This is particularly true of Serial No. 236,140. (No model.)

to let them run but half-way up the studs, as shown, so as to leave the spaces between the studs entirely clear for the easy rem oval of coal or other freight. The lower halt'of the side walls is constructed in substantially the same manner as a common stock car, suitable boards, a c a aa, being permanently attached to the studding at intervals, as shown. i

4O is a panel corresponding nearly with the size of the open space in the upper half ofthe side walls each side of the door. rlhis panel is composed of end pieces, b b', and longitudinal slats ce c c, corresponding in width tothe space between the slats in the lower half of the car. In practice we attach the end pieces on alternate lsides of the slats, the one at the door end of the panel projecting outward, so as to leave the interior wall plane at that point, and the one at the corner of the car for con- Venience projecting inwardly. This panel is mounted on parallel arms D D D D of such length and so adjusted as to allow the panel to swing downwardly and match into the lower halt' ofthe wall, as shown in the left side of Fig. l, and upwardly to form a slatted side wall complete, asshown on the other side ofy said figure.

The construction, position, and operation of the parts are more clearly illustrated in Fig. 2, the pair of arms D D being pivoted to the door-post and the pair DDto the farther end of the car. The panel is held in its elevated position by dogs d d d d', which may be weighted for engagement, as shown, or provided with suitable springs for that purpose.

The dogs may be still further secured from displacement by means of the latch e.

Vhen the panel is thrown down,it isdesirable to forcibly draw it into position with respect to the remainder of the wall. The fastening device consists in the pivoted buttons f f, engaging with the undercut lugs g g. A

central lever, f,\vhich may serve as one ofthe 4 fastenings, is connected with the terminal ones by rods or straps 7L h and actuates the whole simultaneously. The lever may be locked by',

a common hasp,i, or like device. l

In order to close the entire side wall of the car,we provide another panel, E, which'is a continuous piece, as shown, and is hinged in the corner of the car so as to swing up against the ceiling when not in use. A simple button, k, secures it in this position. Asimilar button, k', may serve to hold it in the other position, as shown in Fig. 2.

To make the walls waterprool`,the edges of the slats should bebcveled, as shown in Fig. 3, and to admit of the parts being matched a slot is made in the armD at one of its pivotal connections, so that the panel C maybe raised sui'iciently to slip into position at the lower half of the car. Leakage may be still further prevented by providing the joints with weatherstri ps lof rnbbeieloth, leather, or the like.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a freight ear, the combination of the side wall having the lower half )irermanently Slattcd and the upper hall normallyopen, and a slatted panel mounted on pivotal arms, substantially as specified, and adapted to swing downward and close theinterspaces of the lower halfof the ear or upward to make a uniform slatted side wall, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. In a freightcar, the combination of the side wall having its lower half slatted and its upper half open, the slatted panel adapted to match said slalted wall and close its interspaces, and pivotal arms, substantially as described, adapted to support the panel when elevated and to carry it downward to its lower position, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

3. The combination, in a freightear, ofthe panel C, armsD D, and dogs d d', substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

may be raised to slipit into its lowerposition,

substantially as and for the purpose set forth. 6. The combination, in a freight-car,of the slatted side wall, the removable slatted panel, and weathervstrips, substantially as and for the purpose speciiied.

7. In a freight-car, the combination of the side wall having its lower half slatted and its upper half normally open7 the pivotallymounted panel adapted to match said lower portion of the side wall and close its interspaees, and a continuous tight panel pivoted substantiall y as specified and adapted to close the upper half of the ear and to swing up against the ceiling when not in use, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT' B. CAMPBELL. FRANCIS E. HOUSE.

Vitnesses:

S. W. Ballaman, S. \V. NORTON. 

